New Look Lovin'

Ok, I'm awfully sorry for neglecting my blog for so long. I've made the big move to St. Andrews for uni and have survived Freshers week and made it to week 2! It's been incredibly hectic and now is the only time I've actually managed to sit down and write. I took these photos when I was at home so it's quite weird to see them now that I'm away. 

Anyway, I love New Look. It has always been my go to shop. The shoes are always wonderful and I think there is a wide variety of clothes to suit different styles. The prices are reasonable too, I love the high street! This outfit is entirely from New Look apart from the socks and necklace. 

Cardigan (New Look) Crop top (New Look) Jeans (New Look) Shoes (New Look) Socks (Primark) Necklace (Shop in Kanab, Utah)

Although it can be frowned upon, I think this mixture of black and blue goes rather well - perhaps because of the different shades of blue. Or perhaps it is because there is more black than blue. Either way I think the colour scheme is perfect for the oncoming winter. It's almost time to revert back to those winter darks but the light blue jeans and crop top help to keep this outfit hopeful for more sunshine.

I love oversized cardigans. Why get one that fits when you can get one that you can wrap around you during those colder autumn days? I bought this a while back in a sale and I still love it. It's a classic and can be used all year round. However, I always get jokes about it being "holey"

I love this halter neck crop top. The black colour makes it so stylish yet so simple - the type of clothing. It's extremely comfy but has to be worn with a strapless bra which can be slightly annoying. A brilliant trend from S/S 14.

Skinny jeans are the best type of jeans especially those you can wear without having to use a belt cha-ching! So comfy and also so versatile - really such a classic. I know mom jeans are the real trend here but I like this skinnies as they make this outfit less like all the rest.

These shoes ah. The gaps are perfect as it allows me to add an extra flair by adding some coloured or patterned socks like these blue ones with white lace. It's these little subtle details that can make or break an outfit.

Finally, to finish, a gorgeous photo of the view from my house which I sorely miss seeing every morning now that I am in St, Andrews. "There's no place like home."

University Goodies

I move out in less than two weeks to head to the University of St Andrews! I'm beyond excited. I'm staying in self-catered halls so I have to buy all my own kitchen stuff as well as bathroom things for my ensuite and of course stuff for my bed room. Also don't forget stationary! I thought I'd make up a wee post about my favourite purchases so far.

Red satchel (St James Shopping Centre, Edinburgh)

First up we have this gorgeous red satchel. I bought this at least 6 months ago for £20 from a stall in St James' shopping centre in Edinburgh. I love satchels and, although red isn't my normal go to colour, I love the vibrancy it brings to this bag. It has several little pockets and fits my laptop! The perfect bag for uni. I took it up to Aberdeen to visit my boyfriend and his flat mates loved it so it's also student approved! 

Blue drinks 'can' (ASDA) Red and white polka dot mug (Charity Shop)

I have a slight obsession with buying different things to hold drinks in at the moment. This brilliant little drink 'can' is from ASDA. You simply screw off the top and fill it with a beverage of your choice then slide the clip to open and close the gap. Genius. It also has a two layer system to help keep the drink cool while looking cute, simple and awesome all at once. My grandparents bought me a set of 4 of these lovely red and white polka dot mugs from a charity shop. What a great idea?! I work in Oxfam and honestly the things you can find in charity shops are brilliant. Only things that are in good condition are put out for sale so you don't have to worry about getting broken or ruined items. Buying basic things like these mugs for uni from charity shops is ingenious because it keeps down costs (we all know university costs a fortune anyway) and it won't matter if you break or lose it because you didn't spend £25 on some mugs. Besides, aren't they just adorable?

Honey Bear (American Supermarkets e.g. Walmart)

Isn't the way honey is packaged in America just wonderful? I saw this little cutie when I was on holiday in California and instantly had to buy him to add to my uni cupboard. Honey like this can be found in general supermarkets over there, Americans are so lucky! 

Red and black pasta bowl (ASDA)

ASDA is the place to go to buy things for uni kitchens, I swear. The items are affordable but also really good quality and actually nice. I've been trying to go for a red, black and white theme for my kitchen stuff so, of course, this bowl had to be added to the trolley. I love the unique square shape and the classy use of both colours. A stylish addition, I feel. It's also a great size so I can fit a big portion of pasta in there!

Dream catcher (Monument Valley Visitor Centre)

I love dream catchers. I really believe they work and I have a lovely one with lots of feathers in my bedroom from Spain. However, I didn't want to move that one so treated myself to this gorgeous one when I was visiting Monument Valley in Arizona. It was made by the American Indians or at least in the style of one. Blue is my favourite colour so I was drawn to the blue beads and gem stone weaved into the web. Dream catchers should have 8 points according to an old folk tale about a spider which I would recommend looking up because, to me anyway, it's very interesting.

New York City Taxi (Empire State Building Gift Shop)

Obviously I'm going to need a key for my uni accomodation so while in New York I started looking for key rings specifically for this purpose. While browsing in the Empire State Building gift shop I came across this little guy. He's not too big but is plush and cute. He was added to my basket immediately and every time I use my accommodation keys, I'll be reminded of my wonderful holiday with my family in America.  

Pencil Case (Tesco)

A necessity. Pencil cases are friends and Tesco is the place to go! A small one is brilliant for just carrying the simple things like pens and pencils rather than the one I lugged around school which held my calculator, highlighters, ruler and even a glue stick. This neon orange is just something a bit different and will also be easy to find in my bag!

Spud Dude - peeler (ASDA)

Isn't this great?! Oh my goodness, I found this hilarious. "This dude peels to perfection." Everyone needs a peeler and why not add some joy and hilarity to cooking? Well done, ASDA, I applaud you. 

Notebooks and Diary (Paperchase)

Stationary. Oh, stationary. Stationary is the love of my life and Paperchase is heaven on earth. These beauties, although rather expensive for notepads, have a lovely unique design and are very thick with plenty of lined paper inside which also has different coloured boarders. After using a planner/homework diary for my whole 13 years of school prior to uni, I felt I really needed this wee diary just to keep track of the mountain of work I'm going to get. It's cute, has a lovely layout and could fit in your pocket!

Ring binder (Paperchase)

Ring binders are key to organisation. Organisation is key to good studying (in my humble opinion). How can you study well if you can't find the right notes? Also, being organised doesn't mean your notes have to look horrible. Find pretty ring binders like this to jazz up those awful notes that you really don't want to have to cram into your head.  

Laundry Bag (ASDA)

I am terrified about the washing aspect of uni. I have no idea how to work a washing machine. However, at least I'll be able to carry my clothes easily to the laundry room. I've been told this a rather essential purchase. No one wants to be running with their arms full of clothes and leaving a trail of socks and underwear. A bargain from ASDA - only £1! It's big and the material seems sturdy enough, after all, how heavy can clothes really be? 

Lunchbox (Urban Outfitters)

Finally, this adorable lunch box from Urban Outfitters. I love to browse through the homeware and book section of Urban Outfitters. The style is so unique and quirky and I love it. This box is just brilliant to take care of my "brain food" and I can wait to cram it full of wraps and sandwiches and snacks!

Anyone else got any ideas for university necessities? 

Speak soon, Alice x 

Giant Coat

Sooo, I've been super busy recently with my new part time job waitressing at the local hotel for the rest of the summer ooooh, getting things ready for uni (26 days, not that I'm counting or anything...) and seeing my gorgeous friends. Ever feel like you've got so many ideas buzzing around inside your head but you never actually manage to do any of them because you have no time? I really want to try making a dress but also want to make bags to sell online and read a huge stack of books and, on top of that, decide all the different things I want to get involved in at uni. It's crazy.

Anyway, recently I went to see an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz with my friend at the Edinburgh Fringe! The Edinburgh Fringe is a fantastic festival with so many shows of all kinds to go and see. The tickets are very cheap (only a fiver to see the show I went to) and many are also free! This adaptation of The Wizard of Oz was put on by the American High School Theatre Festival and was honestly fantastic. It viewed the story as though it was all in Dorothy's head. It was set in a mental hospital and Dorothy was imagining the other patients and the staff as the characters in the story of The Wizard of Oz. It was so cleverly done with a very simplistic stage and small cast. Honestly would recommend it, and Edinburgh Fringe in general, to anyone. 

Finally, on to clothes. This is what I wore to this show!

Coat (Oxfam) Dress (Primark) Bag (Mum's) Shoes (New Look)

I volunteer in an Oxfam shop and during every shift I have to stop myself from purchasing something. However, I couldn't resist this jacket. I love the style and the colour and have been wanting a jacket like this since last winter. The size was a slight issue due to it being a size 20 so it was rather larger than my normal size 8/10 but I usually get jackets a couple of sizes bigger because it means you can add more layers! Also because it's so big it's easy to wrap it around myself and I also like to think it gives me a sort of casual French look (ooh lala) Turns out it was only  £5.99 and that sealed the deal. I would recommend buying winter jackets in charity shops or in sales before winter because you will save a fortune and will have one before there is a mad rush to obtain one and therefore actually get one you like!

This cute little tartan dress is actually another Primark gem. I love tartan, especially the more subtle darker tartans like this rather than the bright red ones that are very in your face. It has gorgeous detail with a little white collar and a floppy black bow tie. I feel it's old fashioned but cute and quaint. I would normally wear it casually and can easily be worn with tights if the weather is colder.

This is probably my favourite bag ever. I found it when I was digging in my mum's wardrobe once and had to nab it. It has such intricate detail with rich colours that make it a fantastic accessory. It is a tad small but can fit my purse, phone and keys at a push. Also has the handy feature of a mirror inside! Hunt charity shops and market stalls for gems like this because I've never seen anything like this on the high street. 

I love these brogue style shoes. I bought them for school and they are ridiculously comfy. They're adorable and everyone should own a pair. Being black, they also go with absolutely everything!

Speak soon! Love, alice

Primark Gems featuring the Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games 2014 are being held in Glasgow this year which is a huuuuuge deal here in Scotland! I had the honour of being nominated to carry the Queen's baton and one of my friends actually got to carry it. Several of my friends are volunteers helping out at various events and I've been lucky enough to go to the opening ceremony and athletics! I always find with these huge sporting events that everyone becomes avid watchers of sports they had never expressed an interest in before (shooting and bowls people?) which is great for these sports as they and the athletes get the recognition they deserve. Anyway, if you ever get the chance to go to a big sporting event like this, take it! The atmosphere is absolutely incredible particularly if it's a home crowd. There's nothing that makes you feel more patriotic than cheering on an athlete from your country with face paint plastered on your face and then singing the national anthem as they stand on the podium while you wave your flag wildly in the air.

However, the title of this post mentions Primark. I have to say I have a talent for finding hidden gems in the midst of all the chaos that is always in Primark. I am not a huge fan of Primark because I disagree with the way they produce their products so I try to shop as little as possible in there. This in turn has given me a very critical eye when it comes to shopping in there because I will only buy something in there if I absolutely love it. The result is finding some gorgeous clothes that no one can believe is from Primark!

 Playsuit (Primark) Sandles (Target)

So this absolutely amazing playsuit is from Primark! It's probably my favourite item of clothing right now. It's perfect for summer with its vibrancy, patterns and colours and the light flowy material stops you getting too hot despite it being long sleeved. It can also be easily jazzed up for more formal events like parties by adding some heels (I'd say wedges) and some plain earrings. It's important not to go over the top with accessories when you have clothing as bright as this. It says it all by itself! 

I actually wore this beautiful outfit to the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games (see photos below) and it just added to the exciting atmosphere and happiness that I felt being surrounded by all the Commonwealth Games buzz in Glasgow. 

My advice for shopping in Primark would be to try not to get distracted by the price tag. Yes everything is super cheap but this means that top that you would normally think twice about is now easily up for grabs because of the price. Be critical and only buy items you reaaaaaally want like you would in other shops when the price tag quickly turns something from a "must have" to a "never mind, I can live without." But it just shows that among the swag tops and onesies, Primark really has some great clothes.

Finally some pictures from the Commonwealth Opening Ceremony of me and my lovely boyfriend, Richard.

San Diego to New York

(Last holiday post) My mum gave me the idea to compare the style in San Diego and New York!

                                               

San Diego is a very beach oriented city with the stereotypical surfer style. Surfing is huge is San Diego - they even get taught it in their P.E lessons! Therefore it's not surprising that the fashion reflects this popular interest.

Everyone I saw on the beach looked effortlessly chilled. Swimwear is essential. No one wears underwear, bikini tops replace the standard bra. All clothing worn on top had to be light weight to cope with the heat and I to deal with wet swimwear.

Straw Hat (Target) Crocheted Top (Cherry Red - Shop in my own town, now closed), Bikini (New Look) Shorts (H&M) Sandles (Target)

Holey and crocheted items are very popular as no wet marks are left, they are airy and allow you to show off your bright bikini. Sandals are also a must as they stop your feet boiling up and stop sand getting in a shoe you can't get it out of. For the beach, if you're just going to lie about I'd go for a cheapy pair of spongy flip flops so that they're easy to kick off. If you're walking more, I'd choose sandles with straps that attach the shoe to your foot because when you're walking in the sand or through the water a shoe can easily slip off and float away towards the horizon. No one wants that!

With the California sun, hats and sunglasses are must. They're needed for protection but that doesn't mean they can't be pretty. I really like the soft colour of the straw hat and crocheted top which let's me add splashed of colour like the beads on my hat, my bikini and shorts. A brilliant chance to combine minimalist clothes with elaborate extras. I usually get cheap sunglasses because I break them so easily. Oops.

So, New York. Wow. Where do I even start? New York is an absolutely amazing city with its towering skyscrapers contrasting with it's old fashioned apartment blocks with roof gardens, its lights and, of course, its endless supply of yellow cabs. My amazing mum booked our hotel in the middle of Times Square! So we were slap bang in the middle of the action.

It was extremely difficult to spot a particular style that was common in New York especially in Times Square which was filled with tourists. However, I quickly figured out a way to spot the locals. They would generally be walking purposefully, usually had a moody expression and were the fearless individuals who would dodge the oncoming traffic to cross the road instead of waiting for the green man.

The locals I saw in Times Square generally seemed to be there for work as they would be would be wearing staple outfits like suits and smart shirts. Although simple looking, they were effortlessly stylish. Many also brightened up their basic work clothes with a bright primary coloured shirt and/or a statement pair of shoes.

I also noticed that bright patterns were a huge hit. This may only have been because of the gorgeous summer weather in New York but I loved it either way.

Blazer (New Look) Shirt (H&M) Belt (New Look) Jeggings (Dorothy Perkins) Shoes (New Look) Bangles (Oxfam)

I've tried to recreate the stylish basic work look that I saw in New York but also tried to make it more casual for every day wear by adding a pair of black jeggings to do so. Sticking to the block colour idea, I added this simplistic bright blue T-shirt which compliments the black and isn't too in your face. I bought this blazer originally for school but I love wearing it casually as well. It creates a smart element to the outfit but, by rolling up the sleeves, it doesn't look to interview-like. It is also warm enough to act as a jacket in mild weather. The plaited belt adds a little splash of detail that stands out against an otherwise rather plain outfit. These are actually my prom shoes! I barely wore them for most of the night (it's not easy dancing in six inch heels with a dress that touches the floor!) They are the same shade of royal blue as my dress and match the silver sequins on my dress so I had to have them! They simply add an extra statement to the outfit and heels are always great for making your pins look fab.

Kimono (New Look) Top (New Look) Shorts (Target) Shoes (Peacocks)

Ok, this might be a bit of a pattern clash but I love it. It's easy to wear either a statement dress or mix and match patterned pieces. Both the shorts and kimono are a light material so are similar in the way they way they lie against the skin. The shorts have a combination of colours including black, blue and white, therefore surprisingly compliment the kimono. The lacy vest top I added is of the same shade of burgundy that runs subtly through the shorts. Finally, throw on some rope wedges with open toes to add an elegant but summery touch!

Dress (H&M) Shoes (Peacocks) Earrings (Accessorize)

If you're not a fan of clashing patterns it's easy to buy just one statement item like this dress. The pink and green are a great combination and the zig zag pattern is much more interesting than standard straight horizontal lines. Horizontal lines are great for lengthening your figure and making you look taller. I thought these earrings added a nice touch but with a dress like this you really don't need many accessories as the dress speaks for itself! Again I've chosen my trusty wedges. Heels make your legs look great as well as aligning your body and improving your posture. The wedge makes the outfit slightly more casual and also more practical as they are easier than stilettos to walk in. It's also possibly to wear dolly shoes or plimsoles with this dress if you want to really tone it down. A dress like this is so great because it's very versatile and can be worn for numerous different occasions!

Speak soon! Love, alice